Apparatus for heat treating substances



Marh 27,- 1934.

D. CHAPMAN APPARATUS FOR HEAT TREATING SUBSTANCES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1931 INVENTOR.

Ms W

ATTORNEY.-

March 27, 1934. F, CHAPMAN 1,952,418

APPARATUS FOR HEAT TREATING SUBSTANCES Filed Aug. 24. 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 -INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

March 27, 1934. F. D. CHAPMAN 1,952,418

APPARATUS V- FOR HEAT TREATING SUBSTANCES Filed Aug. 24, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .2359: 3; "i4 43 $759145? 3 [N VEN TOR.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 APPARATUS FOR HEAT TREATING SUBSTANCES Frank D. Chapman, Berlin, Wis. Application August 24, 1931, SerialNo. 559,002

8 Claims.

The present invention relates in general to improved apparatus for heat treating various substances, and relates more specifically to improvements in the construction and operation of apparatus for heat treating food products or the like after batches thereof have been packed in receptacles 'suchas tin cans.

An object of the invention is to provide improved heat treating apparatus which is simple in construction and efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for efiecting automatic and commercial exploitation of the process of heat treating substances disclosed in copending applications Serial No. 509,733, Serial No. 509,734, and Serial No. 509,735, filed January 19th, 1931.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for removing adhering basic liquid from sealed food laden containers which have been heat treated in a solution of the basic liquid and some other liquid such as water.

Still another object of the invention is to provide instrumentalities for permitting accurate variation of the proportions of 'basic and other liquid constituting the heating medium for treating comestible commodities.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for rapidly, continuously and automatically heat'treating batches of material concealed within successive containers such as cylindrical tin cans or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved system of transporting cylindrical containers such as tin cans, from place to place, during the treatment of the product therein.

These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed descrip tion.

Some of the novel features of heat treating food products or the like by subjecting the containers thereof to a heated mixture or a solution of basic and other liquid, form the subject of said copending application Serial No. 509,735, filed January 19th, 1931, of which the present application is a continuation in part.

A clear conception of embodiments of the several features constituting the present invention, and of the mode of constructing and operating apparatus built in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic layout of one form of heat treating plant especially adapted for the treatment of loaded cylindrical tin cans with liquid other than pure water;

Fig. 2 is a more comprehensive diagram of a plant for heat treating comestible commodities packed in cylindrical tin cans or the like;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section through the can receiving end of the main heat treating unit of the plant or system shown in Fig. 2, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a similarly enlarged longitudinal section through the can receiving end of the main treating unit of Fig. 3, the section being taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a likewise enlarged transverse section through. the can delivery end of the main heat treating unit of the plantshown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a further enlarged longitudinal section through a fragment of the can discharge conveyor of the system shown in Fig. 2, the section being taken along the line 66 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 7 is a still further enlarged transverse section through the can discharge conveyor, the section being taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

The apparatus specifically shown and described, while being capable of other uses, is cspecially adapted for the exploitation of' the improved processes set forth in copending applications Serial No. 509,733, Serial No. 509,734, and Serial No. 509,735, all of which were filed January 19th, 1931. In these prior applications it has been proposed to heat treat edible substances by transporting sealed containers such as cylindrical tin. cans loadedwith batches of the substance,

- through a heating liquid having predetermined definite specific heat, density, boiling point, and submerging depth. The liquid specifically employed may be a solution of glycerine and ethylene glycol and Water, any two or all three of which may be mixed in any desired proportions in order to secure the desired results. These several liquids by virtue of the differences in specific heat and density, may be mixed to produce a mixture or solution for effectively heat treating various products, either by providing for properly timed heat-penetration or by providing for agitation during proper periods of the processing operation, and the basic liquids are capable of separation from each other and from the water by distillation.

- For example, it is well known that glycerine (.52), a. relatively high boiling point, and high specific gravity (1.118). While the specific heat of these two liquids is approximately the same, the boiling point of glycerine is considerably higher than that of ethylene glycol, and the boiling point of both of these liquids is considerably above that of pure water. The glycerine and ethylene glycol which will be referred to hereinafter as the basic or rare liquids other than pure water, are moreover freely soluble in each other and in pure water to produce a solution having any desired specific heat, boiling point, and specific gravity, within the limits of the characteristics of the ingredients. By utilizing a properly proportioned heat treating solution of such 1iquids, the specific gravity of the mixture may be made such that food laden cans of known specific gravity will either sink or float in the mixture, or the specific gravity of the loaded cans and heating medium may be equalized. The proportions of the ingredients in the mixture may moreover be readily varied due to the fact that the liquids may be quickly and effectively separated by distillation because of the difference in the boiling points thereof, and the constituents thus segregated may be subsequently mixed in any desired proportion. Because of the relative value of the basic liquids, it also becomes desirable to salvage the same as much as possible by removing adhering rare liquid from the cans prior to their final discharge from the treating apparatus. 4

Referring specifically to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the main heat treating unit comprises a casing 10 forming a chamber having a properly proportioned solution of heating liquid of suitable depth therein, and a rotor 11 having flights 12 cooperable with helical guides 13 secured to the interior of the casing 10, to transport cans 14 in succession longitudinally through the casing during revolution of the rotor 11. The heating liquid within the casing 10 may be heated in any desired manneras by a steam coil, and the casing 10 is preferably provided with gages for determining the level and temperature of the liquid therein. The successive cans 14 may beadmitted to the interior of the casing 10 in any desired manner and after being heat treated during transportation through the casing, are delivered in succession through an outlet 15 communicating directly with an auxiliary casing 16 having an endless can conveyor 1'7 disposed therein. The initial inclined can receiving portion of the conveyor 17 cooperates with a fixed sloping plate 18 to advance the successive heat treated cans 14 upwardly along the plate 18, thereby permitting drainage of the major portion of the heat treating liquid, back into the main casing 10 through a return pipe 19.

The conveyor 1''! is adapted to subsequently transport the cans 14 in succession through a washing basin 20 which may be supplied with fresh washing water either from a condenser 21 or from a water supply line 22, or from both of these sources. During their transportation through the basin 20, the successive cans 14 are thoroughly washed for the removal of adhering basic liquids, and the solution resulting from such washing operation may either be returned directly to the main casing 10 through the overflow pipe 23, or the wash solution may be delivered to a-still 24 through a by-epass 25. In order to permit such interchangeable delivery of the solution discharged from the washing basin 20, the overflow pipe 23 is provided with a shut-01f valve 26, and

the by-pass 25 is provided with a similar shut-off valve 27. The successive treated and washed cans 14 are finally discharged from the washing basin 20 and from the casing 16, through a can discharge 28.

The uppermost portion of the main casing 10 i provided with a vapor discharge pipe 29 having a shutoff valve 30 therein, and the pipe 29 communicates with the upper end of the coil 31 of the condenser 21. The lower end of the condenser coil 31 communicates through a pipe 32 with the fresh water inlet end of the washing basin 20. The condenser coil 31 is disposed within a housing to which cooling fluid may be admitted through a pipe 33, and from which the cooling medium may be discharged through a pipe 34. The still 24 which is utilized to recover the basic liquids removed from the cans 14 in the Washing basin 20, has a water vapor discharge pipe 35 provided with a shut-off valve 36 and communicating with the upper end of the condenser coil 31.

During normal operation of the apparatus specifically shown in Fig. 1, for the recovery of basic liquids removed from the main casing 10 by the successive cans 14, the cans are transported by the conveyor 17 along the inclined plate 18 and most of the liquid is drained from the cans and is returned directly to the casing 10 through the return pipe 19. The remainder of the liquid adhering to the cans 14 is washed therefrom in the basin 20, and the washed cans are eventually delivered in succession through the discharge 28. If fresh Water is required in the system, the valve in the fresh water supply pipe 22 may be opened to admit the required amount of fresh water. The water vapors created within the main casing 10 of the heat treating unit due to overheating of the heat treating liquid, pass upwardly through the pipe 29 to the condenser coil 31 where they are condensed and from which the water of condensation is returned to the washing basin 20 through the pipe 32. The overflow from the washing basin 20 may be returned directly through the pipe 23 to the main casing 10, thereby completing the normal circuit. If the proportions of ingredients in the mixture are to be varied, the liquid overflowing from the basin 20 may be passed through the still 24 by closing the valve 26 and opening the valves 27, 36. The water will then be removed from the basic liquids in the form of vapor which will pass through the pipe 35 to the condenser coil 31 and will be returned to the washing basin 20 through the pipe 32 as distilled water. After a predetermined quantity of basic liquid has been removed by the still 24, any desired quantity of basic liquid may be added to the heat treating liquid within the casing 10 so as to produce a treating liquid of proper characteristics.

Referring specifically to the more complex heat treating system of Figs. 2 to 7 inclusive, the casing 10 of the main heating unit is again provided witha rotor 11 having flights 12 cooperating with helical guideways 13, but the heat treating liquid within the casing 10 is under relatively high pressure due to a hydro-static head established by permitting the liquid to fill the upwardly extending inlet and discharge conduits 3'7, 38 respectively. The can inlet conduit 37 is somewhat shorter than the discharge conduit 38, and has an i sive cans are transferred from the supply conveyor 39 to the rotor 11 by means of resilient transfer fingers 41, see Figs. 2 and 5. The longer can discharge conduit 38 has an endless can delivery conveyor 43 therein, which is adapted to transport the successive heat treated cans 14 from the upper portion of the discharge end of the main casing to the washing basin which is located above the level of the liquid in the system indicated by the horizontal line 44 in Fig. 2. The successive cans 14 are transferred from the discharge end of the rotor 11 to the delivery conveyor 43, by means of other resilient transfer fingers 45 as shownin Figs. 2. 3 and 4.

The conveyors 39, 43 are of similar construction as shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7, and comprise endless chains 46 having transverse can transporting pins 47 the ends of which are provided with rollers 48 coacting with guides or tracks 49 secured to the side walls of the conduits 39, 43. The effective runs of the conveyors 39, 43 pass through zig-zag portions of the conduits 37, 38 respectively, while the ineffective return runs pass through upright conduit portions, and these conveyors may be provided with slack take-up devices 42 of well-known construction cooperating with one set of the sprockets of each conveyor as shown in Fig. 2.

The system of Fig. 2 is moreover provided with a liquid expansion tank 50 having an atmospheric connection 51, and communicating with a heating and mixing tank 52 through a riser 53. The tank 52 is provided with a heating coil 54 and has an inlet pipe 55 communicating with the outlet manifold of the main casing 10. A circulating pump 56 is adapted to discharge heat treat ing solution from the tank 52 to the inlet manifold of the casing 10 through a pipe 57, thereby maintaining proper circulation of heating medium through the casing 10. Some of the heated liquid from within the casing 10 rises through intake conduit 37 and serves to preheat the entering cans l4 and to thus initially raise the temperature thereof prior to delivery to the casing 10; In order to maintain a flow of heating liquid upwardly through the inlet conduit 3'7, the upper portion of this con-duit is connected by means of a valve controlled pipe 58, to another pipe 59 leading from the upper portion of the delivery conduit 38 to a storage tank 60. The outlet pipe 61 of the storage tank passes through a cooler 62 to a pump 63, and the discharge pipe 64 of the pump 63 communicates directly with the lower end of the delivery conduit 38, and may also be brought into communication with the inlet conduit 37 by opening a valve 65. When the pump 63 is operating, cooling liquid is being constantly circulated upwardly through the delivery conduit 38 and through the tank 60 and cooler 62, and by opening the valve 65 some cooling liquid may also be admitted to the stream of preheating liquid rising through the inlet conduit 37. The upper coils of the delivery conduit 38 may also be provided with a drainage connection 66 as shown in Fig. 2 for returning drainage liquid from the successive cans 14 in the upper coil to the liquid filled lower coil.

As in the system of Fig. 1, the modified system of Fig. 2 also embodies a can washer comprising a basin 20 having an overflow pipe 67 communieating with a still 24. The still 24 is also adapted to receive liquid from the heating and mixing tank 52 through a pump 68, and the vapor discharge pipe 69 of the still communicates with the upper end of the coil 31 of a condenser 21. The lower end of the condenser coil 31 may be brought into communication with the inlet end of the washing basin 20 through a pipe 70 having a control valve 71 therein, and fresh water may also be supplied to the basin 20 through a pipe 22. The lower end of the coil 31 may also be brought into direct communication with abypass pipe 72, by opening a valve 73 in the by-pass. and the pipe 72 may be interchangeably connected to either of the distillate receiving tanks 74, 75 by manipulating the shut-off valves '76, 77 respectively. The tanks 74, 75 are connected to a vacuum pump '78 by means of connections 79, 80 having shut-off valves therein, and these tanks are also interchangeably communicable with the mixing tank 52 through a pipe 81 and valves 82, 83.

During normal operation of the system of Fig. 2, and assuming that a proper mixture or solution has been introduced into the heat treating circuits, the valve 71 is open and the valves 73, 82, 83 are closed. The rotor 11 is revolving to transport the cans 14 in succession through the casing 10, and the conveyors 39, 43 are functioning to admit and discharge the cans to and from the casing 10. The pump 56 is operating to circulate a mixture of heated treating liquid or solution from the mixing tank 52 through the pipe 57, casing 10 and pipe 55, and the coil 54 is regulated to maintain any desired temperature in the system. As the successive cans enter the supply chute 40 and pass downwardly through the intake conduit 3'7, they are initially heated and are eventually delivered into the lower portion of the inlet end of the casing 10 at a temperature substantially corresponding to the temperature at that end of the heat treating unit. During their transportation through the casing 10, the contents of the cans 14 are further heat treated and the finally treated cans are eventually discharged into the lower end of the delivery conduit 38. During their traverse upwardly through the conduit 38, the cans are cooled and are eventually delivered into the washing basin 20 where they are subjected to wash water either from the pipe 22 or from the condenser 21 through the pipe 70.

The still 24 may be operated to receive the overflow through the pipe 67'and to deliver water vapor through the pipe 69 to the condenser 21, whereupon the water of condensation is delivered to the washing basin 20 through the pipe 70. If it becomes desirable to vary the proportions of basic liquid and water in the solution, the valve 71 may be closed and the valve 73 opened. The still 24 may then be operated with water from the washing basin, 20, or it may receive an additional supply of liquid directly from the tank 52 with the aid of the pump 68. By properly operating the still 24, the water may first be driven from the liquid and delivered to the washing basin 20 past the valve 71, after which the valve 73 may be closed and the basic liquids separated from each other. When utilizing glycerine and ethylene glycol it will be apparent that the first heating after the water has been removed, will drive off the basic liquid having lowest boiling point. This liquid or first distillate may be delivered to the tank 75 by closing the valves 76, 82 and by opening the valves '77, 83 and by operating the vacuum pump '78 to create a predetermined vacuum within the tank 75. After the first distillation has been completed, the remaining basic liquid may be delivered to the tank 74 by closing the valves '77, 83 and by opening the valves 76, 82, and by maintaining the vacuum pump 78 in operation but connected to the tank 74 instead of to the tank 75.

In this manner the basic liquids may be readily separated from each other and from the water normally contained in the heating solution, and any desired mixture may subsequently be produced by admitting basic liquids in proper proportions from the tanks 74, 75 to the tank 52.

The storage tank 60 functions in cooperation with the pump 63 to maintain a desirable flow of cooling liquid through the delivery conduit 38, and the cooler 62 may be regulated to vary the temperature of the cooling liquid. If it is desired to vary the temperature of the heating liquid within the inlet conduit 37, it is only necessary to open the valve 65 whereupon cooling liquid will be admitted to the conduit 37 as well as to the conduit 38. The expansion tank 50 serves to compensate for variations in the volume of the treating liquid in the system, and the pipe 66 serves to initially drain rare liquid from the cans prior to their admission to the washing basin 20.

It will also be apparent from Figs. 3 to '7 inclusive that the successive cans 14 are automatically transferred from the conduit 37 to the rotor 11, and from the rotor 11. to the conduit 38. The spring fingers 41 serve to elevate the cans from one of the transporting devices to another, and the conveyors 39, 43 effectively transport the cans through the zig-zag conduits. The finally treated cans are delivered from the chute 28 in a manner described in connection with Fig. 1.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides improved apparatus for heat treating commodities packed in sealed containers. The invention also permits recovery of practically all of the rare treating liquid and also permits convenient variation in the proportions of the constituents in the heat treating solution. These proportions may be conveniently and accurately varied to suit any desired conditions, and while the invention has been specifically described in connection with treating systems utilizing glycerine and ethylene glycol mixed with water, it is to be understood thatthe novel features are more generally applicable to other types of systems.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction and operation of the apparatus herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Apparatus for treating food laden receptacles with a solution of rare liquid and water, comprising, a heater having the heated solution therein, means for transporting the receptacles through the solution within said heater, and

means for subsequently removing adhering rare liquid from the heat treated receptacles and for returning the same to said heater.

2. Apparatus for treating food laden cans with 'a solution of rare liquid and water, comprising,

a heater having the heated solution therein,

means for transporting the cans in succession through the heated solution, means for subsequently washing the successive heat treated cans, and means for returning the rare liquid removed therefrom by said washing operation to said heater. f

3. Apparatus for treating food laden cylindrical cans with a solution of rare liquid and water, comprising, a heater having the heated. solution therein, a washer having a rare liquid return casing communicating with said heater, and means for rolling the cans in succession through said heater and said washer.

4. Apparatus for treating food laden recep-- tacles with a solution of basic liquid and water, comprising, a heater which utilizes .the heated solution to heat the cans, means for transporting the cans in succession through the solution in said heater, and means for varying the proportions of basic liquid and water in the solution within said heater to change the heat transferring characteristics of said solution.

5. Apparatus for treating food laden cans with a solution of water and other liquid, comprising, a heater having heated solution therein, means for transporting the cans through the solution within said heater, means for distilling the solution delivered from said heater to separate the water thereof from the other liquid, and means for returning the segregated other liquid to said heater to maintain a heating solution having definite heat transferring characteristics.

6. Apparatus for treating food laden cans with a solution of rare liquid and water, comprising, a heater having a hot solution therein, means for transporting cans through the solution within said heater, means for washing the cans delivered from said heater to remove the adhering rare liquid therefrom, and means for separating the rare liquid from the washing solution and for returning the separated rare liquid to said heater.

7. Apparatus for treating food laden cans, com prising, a casing having heated liquid therein,

means for transporting cans in succession through i said casing helically and along a substantially horizontal axis, an irregular inlet conduit rising from one end of said casing and having therein liquid for initially heating the cans approaching said casing, a second irregular conduit rising from 7 the other end of said casing and having therein liquid for cooling the cans delivered from said casing, and means for positively transferring the cans through said conduits.

8. Apparatus for treating food laden cans, comprising, a casing having a liquid therein, a rotor for transporting cans in succession through said casing, an irregular inlet conduit rising from one end of said casing, means for circulating heating liquid through said inlet conduit, an irregular outlet conduit rising from the opposite end of said casing, means for circulating cooling liquid through said outlet conduit, and means for positively transferring the cans through said inlet conduit to said casing and from said casing through said outlet conduit.

FRANK D. CHAPMAN. 

